As Thanksgiving 2015 approaches, some may wonder what we should be grateful for as our world copes with the barbaric actions of ISIS and other radical Islamic terrorist groups. However, the death from cancer last week of Diane DiGiacomo, an ASPCA special investigator who helped rescue animals around Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, reminds us… Continue Reading

A shrewd Texas corporate lawyer by the name of Bill Minick proudly proclaims “We’re talking about re-engineering one of the pillars of social justice…”(i.e.,Workers’ Compensation). Mess with the “pillars of social justice”?! Really Bill? You may be the son of an evangelist, but you are not God!

As reported in the Wall Street Journal today, the nation-wide Social Security Disability firm of Binder and Binder formally filed for bankruptcy last night in New York. The bankruptcy petition filed with the Court is 62 pages long (we will post on Monday) and lists current total employees as of October 2014 at 966. The bankruptcy… Continue Reading

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” As reported originally in the Wall Street Journal, Binder & Binder, one of America’s largest Social Security Disability Advocate corporations is preparing for possible bankruptcy this week. The company is facing roughly $40 million dollars in debt due in part to the expensive and ubiquitous late night commercials… Continue Reading

A new study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases journal reported that low back pain is a leading cause of disability not only in the United States, but worldwide. 1 out of every 10 people suffer from some type of low back pain. Out of 21 regions studied, the top regions for disability were… Continue Reading

the settlement in Padro v. Astrue (Colvin) grants over 4000 disability claimants who were unfairly denied benefits by five rogue judges in Queens, NY the right to new hearings before different and independent judges. It also forces the five errant ALJ’s to undergo remedial re-training on Social Security law and proper procedures for conducting fair hearings. Finally, all future decisions by these five judges will be monitored by a special unit within the Social Security Administration for 30 months into the future. So there Mr. “Disability is easy to get” Kroft – stick this decision in your pipe and smoke it!

A few important nuggets of truth remained in my letter which will hopefully resonate with most New Yorkers. According to Social Security stastistics, the grim fact is that 1 in 5 male and 1 in 7 female disability recipients die within 5 years of being granted benefits. So if the average age that someone receives disability payments is 55, the fact is that many will never collect a dime of regular Social Security retirement benefits. This saves Social Security a ton of cash!

Victim Compensation Fund was re-opened as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2011 and allows up to $2.8 billion for survivors and first responders suffering from a specific list of cancers and other ailments as a resulting from the tragedy.

Once you receive this Padro v. Astrue Notification letter, you should immediately contact a Queens Social Security disability lawyer to learn your rights under the settlement. You may be entitled to “six figure cash awards” of retroactive benefits along with Medicare medical insurance. Call us TODAY toll free at 1-877-NY-DBLAW (1-877-693-2529 x123) to discuss your case.

any Social Security disability claimant who received either an “Unfavorable” or only a “Partially Favorable” decision by Judges David Z. Nisnewitz, Seymour Fier, Hazel C. Strauss, Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld or Michael D. Cofresi from January 1, 2008 to the date of the final settlement will have the right to a new hearing before a new Judge, and a new decision in their case. If you would like our New York Social Security Disability lawyers to give your prior Social Security disability denial a fresh look and free evaluation, call us toll Free at 1-877-NY-DBLAW (1-877-693-2529).

The Healthy New York program was introduced as part of the Health Care Reform Act of 2000. Healthy New York provides need-based health insurance coverage for those who qualify. The program is overseen by the New York State Department of Financial Services and is subject to state law and regulation. All HMOs in New York are… Continue Reading

Sodium Hyaluronate is a chemical used in the treatment of arthritis and osteoporosis (you may have seen advertisements for various brands of the drug on television). The substance is injected into the knee and essentially acts as a lubricant, shock absorber and pain reliever while also stimulating the natural production of synovial fluid. Essentially it… Continue Reading

I stopped bythe St. James, New York 9/11 Memorial this morning on the way to work to pay my respects to the fallen, the sick and their families. It is a powerful tribute. We are lucky to have a St. James community that cares so deeply. May God bless you all.

Social Security is scheduled to release it’s long awaited Fibromyalgia Ruling, SSR 12-2p tomorrow, July 25, 2012. Click here for a PDF version the full Social Security Disability Fibromyalgia Ruling. Until now, Social Security Disability lawyers frequently took general guidance from Social Security Ruling 99-2p Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) which was issued in 1999. Do not hesitate to call Senior Partner Troy Rosasco if you have questions concerning a Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability claim.

In any case, the full Supreme Court ObamaCare decision is here. We will report more on how the Affordable Care Act may impact on Social Security disability recipients who are covered by Medicare in another post soon.

As I have done in the past, I’ll be presenting a lecture to “New Practitioners” in the Social Security Disability Law field. I have always believed that in order to be able to teach a subject, you must know it cold. It is no different with Social Security Disability Law, and teaching new Social Security Lawyers is both challenging and invigorating.

9/11 WTC Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). It is hoped that they will strongly support their initial draft report to NIOSH Director, John Howard, MD, which recommends inclusion of cancer among those illnesses covered under the Zadroga Act.

“Here we are almost one year after President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law, and all the “pre-season” hard work of the Special Master and the Department of Justice brought us to the real “Opening Day” of the Victim Compensation Fund,” Mr. Rosasco said. “Now the long season of individual compensation claim evaluations and potential hearings will begin.” “A roadblock that claimants faced in order to get their fair share of the $2.775 billion Victim Compensation Fund has finally been lifted,” Mr. Rosasco’s partner, Daniel J. Hansen said. “Thanks to the Special Master, claimants will have ample time to fill out the forms. Now that all the formalities have been taken care of, these heroes who unknowingly worked in the face of danger are able to receive the compensation they justly deserve.”

Ms. Fortino interviewed my good friend and 9/11 survivor, Jack Delaney. Jack was Director of Emergency Medical Services for New York Presbyterian Hospital and responded so quickly to the World Trade Center that he was caught in the rubble when the buildings collapsed. (Read Jack Delaney’s incredible story of 9/11 and it’s aftermath here).
People like Jack, who will never tell you the full extent of their injuries, are the ones most deserving of benefits under the Zadroga Act, and the ones we will be fighting for.